‘Greek Warrior’ Vangelis Zougris commits to Louisville men’s basketball team

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The University of Louisville men’s basketball roster is going global under head coach Pat Kelsey.

The latest reported addition is Vangelis Zougris, a 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward who has played professionally in Greece since 2021.

News of Zougris’ commitment was first reported Thursday by Jon Chepkevich, Director of Scouting for DraftExpress.com.

Zougris has played for Peristeri Athens, averaging 5.2 points and 3.8 rebounds this season. He has also represented Greece in multiple FIBA competitions — including a standout performance for the U-20 national team in 2023, where he averaged 14.4 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.

Dubbed “The Greek Warrior” by this FIBA website scouting report, Zougris brings a rugged interior presence. In a scouting report last year, analyst Ignacio Rissotto described him as “an effective interior finisher” with mobility, strength and leaping ability that make him tough to defend around the basket.

Defensively, Rissotto noted Zougris has some limitations against bigger post players but is a “nightmare match-up” for perimeter players, using his strength and footwork to smother smaller opponents.

The nickname was inspired by a performance in which Zougris took an elbow to the head, left bleeding, but returned soon after to help his team to victory.

Zougris joins an increasingly international Louisville roster that already includes Sanada Fru of Germany and Mouhamed Camara of Senegal. Egyptian center Aly Khalifa is also working to gain NCAA clearance for his final college season.

Zougris is the 12th addition for Kelsey in his second year leading the Cardinals.